Neighborhood mobility of children: insights from Grazs marginal areas

Neighborhood mobility of children: insights from Grazs marginal areas

As part of his master's thesis at the University of Graz, Benedikt Römer, a former employee of the children's office, examined the mobility behavior of children who live in the outskirts of Graz. The topic of neighborhood mobility, which describes how independently children act in their area, has hardly been researched in Austria. This applies in particular to the reality of life of children in urban areas, to which there is still little data.

Römer, who works at the Institute for Geography and Spatial Research, asked the central question: "Are the outskirts of the city a safe and need -friendly environment for children in which you can move without an adult supervision?" To answer this question, he carried out interviews with children. These took place in the form of walks, in which the children represented their neighborhood using memories. Subjective cards were created in workshops at various elementary schools, including Jägergrund, Liebenau and St. Peter.

Insights through the children's eyes

The focus is particularly on the children themselves, who are viewed as experts in their living environment. Römer justifies this approach by the conviction that the perception of the children contributes significantly to the analysis of their surroundings. The research work shows that the mobility of the children in the urban marginal area varies greatly, which is due to the unequal structural and infrastructural design of these areas. Children in these outskirts have a different kind of freedom of movement than their peers in more central districts.

A central result of the study is the high importance of forest areas for the children. These natural spaces, which are often easily accessible, are used intensively by the children. They not only offer space for explorations, but also for unattended play outdoors. The possibility of moving in such natural environments promotes independence and creative playing of the children.

However, there are also negative aspects. Many places for organized leisure activities, such as sports clubs or music schools, are often at greater distance from the living areas of the children. Römer notes that the children are usually not able to reach these places on foot, with the scooter or bike. The result is that they are often driven there by their parents, which leads to the formation of "islands" - remote places that are isolated from the children's living environments.

This research is not only important in order to gain a better understanding of the mobility behavior of children in the outskirts area, but also to adapt the infrastructures. Improving the paths to leisure locations and taking into account child -friendly habitats could be crucial so that children can act responsibly and independently in their neighborhood. This aspect is particularly important because the promotion of children's independence has a positive impact on their development.

The results of the study offer a valuable impetus for discussion about child -friendly urban planning in Graz and beyond. Benedikt Römer's full report on neighborhood mobility can serve as the basis for further scientific studies to improve the quality of life and mobility of children in urban structures. For more information on this topic, it is worth taking a look at the current reports At www.meinbezirk.at.